ColoradoKote
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Three Stages of Conversion Coating
Precise chemistry control at every step ensures uniform oxide formation and consistent corrosion protection across every lot.
Multi-Stage Surface Decontamination
Parts move through alkaline cleaning and acid deoxidizing to remove oils, oxides, and handling contaminants. Rinse water conductivity is verified below 10 microsiemens per centimeter between each step to prevent cross-contamination of the conversion bath.
Controlled Chemical Reaction
Parts are immersed in MIL-DTL-5541 conversion solution at 70-90 degrees F for 2-5 minutes. Solution concentration is monitored daily through titration. Temperature is held within 5 degrees F of specification to ensure uniform oxide layer formation.
Deionized Water Rinse and Inspection
Multi-stage deionized water rinses remove all residual chemistry. Visual inspection confirms uniform coating color and coverage. Coating weight is measured at 40-100 mg per square foot to verify specification compliance before release.
The Chemical Conversion Coating Process
Chemical conversion coatings create a thin oxide layer on aluminum that improves corrosion resistance and promotes adhesion for subsequent coatings. ColoradoKote processes Type I and Type II formulations under AS9100 protocols with full solution monitoring and lot traceability.
What Our Conversion Coating Delivers
Process parameters are monitored, recorded, and traceable to each lot for complete quality documentation.
Hours Salt Spray Resistance
Type I Class 1A conversion coating delivers 168+ hours of salt spray resistance per ASTM B117. The protective oxide barrier guards against moisture, salt spray, and galvanic contact on aluminum alloys including 2024, 6061, and 7075.
Full Lot Traceability
Solution concentration, temperature logs, immersion times, and visual inspection results are recorded and traceable to each lot number. Your Certificate of Conformance contains all process parameters and coating weight measurements.
Coating Thickness
Conversion coating forms at under 1 micron thickness, creating zero dimensional change to machined parts. Thread fits, bearing surfaces, and mating components remain unaffected while gaining corrosion protection and enhanced coating adhesion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. ColoradoKote specializes in additive manufacturing post-processing for SLS nylon, MJF polymer, and metal AM parts including DMLS stainless steel and titanium. Our surface preparation protocols address the inherent roughness of AM parts, transforming layer lines and powder texture into smooth, production-grade finishes. We work with prototyping houses and production AM facilities across aerospace, medical, and industrial sectors.
Yes. Beyond autoclave steam cycles, medical devices face chemical sterilization with glutaraldehyde, peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and enzymatic cleaning solutions. Cerakote's ceramic-polymer matrix resists this chemical exposure without softening, delamination, or color shift. For AM parts with their inherent surface porosity, the sealed Cerakote barrier also prevents sterilization chemicals from penetrating into the substrate, which would create contamination concerns on subsequent patient contact.
Yes. Cerakote achieves 4,000 abrasion cycles per mil (ASTM D4060) and 9H pencil hardness (ASTM D3363), providing substantial resistance to particulate erosion on flow surfaces, choke components, and valve internals. For high-erosion applications, the combined stack of chemical conversion coating plus Cerakote provides both adhesion insurance and the hard ceramic wear surface needed to extend component service life in sand-producing wells.
Cerakote's 9H pencil hardness and 4,000 cycles per mil abrasion resistance prevent the scratching, scuffing, and wear that compromise low-visibility finishes on fielded equipment. Our spectrophotometer-verified color matching to Delta E 1.5 ensures replacement parts match existing equipment exactly. The coating's UV stability prevents the fading and color shift that make conventional finishes conspicuous after field exposure.
We achieve very close matches to automotive OEM colors using spectrophotometer measurement of your target and selection from 200+ Cerakote colors or custom formulation. While Cerakote is not automotive basecoat/clearcoat paint, the ceramic-polymer finish at Delta E 1.5 provides a match that is visually indistinguishable from OEM color in most applications. The added benefit is dramatically superior durability: Cerakote outlasts automotive paint in abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and corrosion protection.
Ready for Conversion Coating
Provide your aluminum part specifications and required MIL-DTL compliance level. Receive a quote with processing details and lead time.